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Unrrnn STATES THOMAS V. WAYMOTH, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ENvELoPE-MACHINE.

' Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 58.3.27, dated September 25, 1866.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THoMAs V. WAYMorH, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Envelope- Machine; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure l represents a longitudinal vertical section of this invention, the line m w, Fig. 3, representing the plane of section, and looking in the direction of arrow 1, opposite to that line. Fig. 2 is a similar section, taken in the plane indicated by the same line, but looking in the direction of arrow 2.- `Fig. 3 is a plan or top view of the same, some parts heilig broken away to expose the working parts of the machine. Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section of the same, the plane of section being indicated by the liney y, Fig'. 3, and looking in the direction of the arrow opposite to that line. Figs. 5 and 6 are detached views of two of the cams which impart motion to some of the working parts of my machine. Fig. 7 is a face view of the folding platform detached.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts.

This invention relates to a machine in which the seal-flaps of the blanks for envelopes are gummed by pickers or gummers similar to those which serve to gum the folding aps, or by any equivalent mechanism, simultaneously, or nearly so, with the lower or end iiaps, or during the time while the blank passes from the gummin g to the folding mechanism,

in such a manner that the time usuallyre` quired for gummin g and drying the seal-daps is saved. l

It consists, further, in the rarran ;ement of atable which is supported by one or more hinged arms, in combination with the gumming and folding mechanism of an envelope-machine in such a manner that the operation of introducing the blanks under the gummers is facilitated, and 'canl be readily performed without stopping the machine.

It consists, also, in the arrangement ofa curved guide conforming to the edges of the blanks, in combination with the table orbed of the envelopemachine, in such manner that the 4edges of the blanks bear iia-t against said guide, and are prevented from bein gturned in or up, as is the case by the action of the ordinary guide-pins.

It consists, also, in causing the seal-flaps, when folded, to bear on one or more of the folding wings which serve to fold the remaining iiaps, or on parts or projections of said wings, in such a manner that the gummed surface of the seal-Hap is prevented from adhering to the body of the envelope during the operation of folding.

It consists, also, in the arrangement of protectinglips extending from the folding-wings over the joints, in such a manner that the oil from said joints is prevented from coming in contact with the blanks and jointed folding win gs are rendered practicable.

It consists, further, in the arrangement of an endless apron with radiating plates,incom bination with the gumming and folding mechanism, in such a manner that the envelopes, after being folded, are kept separate, each in such a position that the-gum on the seal-flap can dr and said seal-flap is not liable to stick to the body of the envelope.

It consists, also, in passing said endless apron, at its receiving end, over a square or polygonal shaft in such a manner that the radiating pla-tes are certain to assume the requisite position to receive the envelopes as the same are discharged from the folding mechanism.

lt consists, further, in combining with the discharging portion of the apron a curved rail or boX, which prevents the envelopes from dropping out from between the radiating arms of said apron before they have been carried clear round and the gum on the seal-flaps has ample time to dry.

1t consists, also, in a receivingbox with a movable follower, in combination with the discharging end of the endless apron, in such a mannerthat theenvelopes, on being discharged from the endless apron, are slightly compressed and ready to be put up in bundles.

It consists, further, in the arrangement of a forked lever-arm, in combination with a suitable die in the platform which supports the blanks just before the creasing-plunger descends, in such a manner that by the com- -bined action of the lever-arm and die any desired figure can be printed, stamped, or embossed on the envelope while the blank passes from the gumining to the folding mechanism.

It consists, also, in the arran gement of corra sponding dies on the under surface of the creasing-plan ger and on the upper surface of the platform which supports the envelopes while the iiaps are being folded, in such a manner that any desired design, figure, or character can be printed, embossed, or stamped on the body of the envelope while the same is supported on the folding-platform.

It consists, finally, in the arrangement of a set` of types supported by a lever-arm which turns up through a slot in the folding-platform, While the creasing-plunger descends in such a manner that bythe action of said types any desired Word or character can be printed on the body of the envelope while the same passes through the folding mechanism.

A represents the bed of my machine, which is supported by legs B. The table At, which supports the blanks, is detached from the main portion of the bed, and it is connected to the same, or to the frame which supports it, by a hinged arm, a, so that it can be turned in and ont. From the table rises a curved guide, T, against which the edges ofthe blanks abut, so that said blanks can be readily brought in the desired position without bending up their edges.

Above the table rise the pickers C (1*, which serve to apply gum to the blanks, and to lift one after the other up ready to be carried to the folding mechanism.

The pickers G U* are suspended from an arm, D, which extends from a slide, E, to which a rising-and-falling motion is imparted by a cam, F, a detached face view of which is shown in Fig. 6. This cam acts on a lever, Gr, which is hinged to one of the legs'B, and connects with the slideE by a pivot, b. The pickers GC* are supplied with gum by the rollers c, which have their bearings in a reci procating carriage, d, so that they alternately are brought in contact with rollers c, which revolve in the gum-boxes j", and then carried through under 'the pickers C C* by the action of a cam, g, on an arm, h, which is mounted on a rock-shaft, t', from which two arms,j, extend up into notches in the carriage d, as shown in Fi By these means both pickers G and are supplied with gum simultaneously, or nearly so, and the pickers C* serve to apply gum to the folding iiap of the blank in the ordinary manner, while the pickers G apply gum to the sealiiap, the blanks being introduced into the machine without undergoing any previous gumming operation.

After the pickers have descended upon the blanks they rise again, carrying up the uppermost blank, which adheres to the same until said blank, by 'comin g in contact with the under surface of the platform supporting the gum-box, is disengaged from the pickers and deposited on the carriers Git, to which a reciprocating motion is imparted by the action of an arm, H, which is mounted on a rockshaft, h. This rock-shaft receives an oscillating motion by an ecce1itric,t',which is mounted on the driving-shaft j, and connects with said rock-shaft by a strap, lr, andarm l, as shown in Figs. l and 4i ofthe drawings.

By the carriers the blank is brought under lthe creasing-plunger I, which is secured to an arm, K, extending from a slide, L, to which a rising-and-falling motion is imparted by the action of a cam, M, a detached face view of which is shown in Fig. 5. This cam is provided with a notch, m, so that the slide L can be withdrawn Whenever it may be desirable.

The plungerl forces the blank down th rough an aperture, a, in the creasing-platform N; but before the plunger descends the. blank is disengaged from the carriers and depressed on said creasing platform by the action of a forked lever, O. This lever is hinged to the standard which forms the guide for the plunger-sl-ide L, and it straddles thc plunger l, as shown in Fig. l of the drawings. To one of its arms a die, o,is attached, which, when brought down upon the blank while the same rests upon the creasing-platform, produces on the seal-flap a mark representing any desired character. In order to obtain the requisite blow for producing the stamp on the seal-flap, a nose, p, is applied to the periphery of the cam F, which, in passing a lip, q, which projects from the rear end ofthe lever O, imparts to the saine a quick oscillating motion, causing the die 0 to come down with sufficient force upon the creasing-platform to produce the desired effect. A spring, r, keeps the lip q in contact with the periphery of the cam F.

The action of the die o may be facilitated by inserting into the creasing-platforin a corresponding die, but reverse from the first; or a plain die may be secured in said creasing-platform, and a pad of soft material attached to the lever O. By this arrangement any desired character may be stamped or embossed on the seal-flap of an envelope while the blank is passing from the gumming to the fold-ing machine. By the descent of the plunger I the blank is creased, and in this condition it is brought down upon the folding-table P. By engraving or otherwise producing in this table, or in the face of the creasing-plunger, or in both, a suitable design or die, s, (see Figs. 3 and 7,) the body of the envelope can be embossed or stamped with any desirable character.

The folding-mbk?l P is perforated with a rect` angular slot, t, to admit the printing-types a. These types are secured in an arm, c, which is hinged to the under surface of the bed A, and which is raised at the proper intervals by the action of a cam, w, on a hinged lever,a, the upper end of which bears ou the typecarrying arm Q2, asA shown in Fig. l of the drawings. The types a are supplied with vink by means of a roller, b', which is secured to an oscillating arm, c', to which motion is imparted by a cam, d', so that lsaid roller is caused to travel over the ink-retaining sur` face c', andto transfer the ink which it takes up from said surface to the types just before the same are caused to rise. By means of these types any desired word or sentence can be printed on the body of the envelope. The types are fastened in the arm c, so that they can be readily changed or removed and replaced by others, according to the words to be printed on the envelopes.

The types take effect during the shortinterval for which the plunger I rests on the `folding-table P, and they recede simultaneously with said plunger, but in an opposite direction. As soon as the plunger has descended a sufficient distance the folding-wings f g h t" turn down in quick succession-first the wings g and t', then the wing h, and finally the wing j", which serves to fold the seal-nap. The wings g', t" ,and It', after having turned down, remain stationary until the sealflap is turned down; and said wings are so shaped that the gummed part of the sealdlap will not be allowed to come in contact with any ofthe remaining` flaps, and consequently it will be prevented from adhering to any portion of said flaps.

This object may also be effected by introducing any foreign substance, or by the insertion of arms, fingers, or rods of suitable shape and material, or by the introduction of eXtra wings or flaps between the seal-nap and the other iiaps independent of or connected with the plunger or any other part ofthe ma chine, and an extra wing or iiap that would be inserted might at the same time apply the gum to the seal-flap.

The wings f g h t are operated by suitable cams on the driving-shaft in" the usual manner, and they 'are provided with lips f t, extending over the joints, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. By the protecting-lips the use of jointed folding-wings is rendered practicable. A raised rim, gt, near the edge of the folding-wing for the lower flap, presses on the gummed part of said iiap and causes the same to adhere without fail.

After the operation of folding a blank has been completed the folding-wings turn back to their original position and the folding-table is tilted, causing the folded envelopes to slide down and drop between two of the radiating armsj, which project from an endless aproh, Q. This apron is stretched over two rollers, la l', and an intermittent motion is imparted to it by the action of an arm, m', on a ratchetwheel, n', which is mounted on the shaft of the roller l at the receiving end ot' the apron.

This roller is square, so that the arms j will spread as the same pass over said roller 5 and the arm mis secured to the rock-shaft t, as shownin Fig. 2 of the drawings, so that the apron is moved at the proper intervals.

By this apron the folded envelopes are carried round, and they are prevented from dropping out before they have passed clear round by the curved rail. o', which surrounds the apron, as shown in Figs. l and 2.

While being carried along in the apron the gum on the seal-flaps has time to dry, and on being discharged from said apron the envelopes drop into the receiving-box R, which is provided with a follower, S. To this follower a reciprocating motion is imparted by an arm, pfwhich extends from the rock-shaft h and connects with the followerA by a rod, q. By this arrangement the envelopes are slightly compressed, and on leaving the receiving-box they are ready to be put up in bundles.U

What I cla-im as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. Gumming the seal-flaps of the blanks for envelopes simultaneously, or nearly so, with the lower or end flaps, or during the time while the blank passes from the gummin g to the folding mechanism, and by .mechanism substantially such as herein described, or any other suitable mechanism which will produce the same effect.

2. The arrangement of a curved guide, T, in combination with the table Af, constructed and operating substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. Causing the seal-flap when folded to bear on one or more of the foldin g-win gs or on parts or projections of said wings, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. The protecting-lips ji, in combination with the joints of the folding-win gs, constructed and operating substantially as and for the purpose specilied.

5. The raised surface at or near the edge of the wing which folds the lower flap, substan l', substantially as and for the purpose described.

8. The curved rail o', or its equ1valent,in combination with the apron Q, constructed and operating substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

9. The receiving-box R and follower S, in n combination with the discharging end of the endless apron Q, constructed and operating substantially as and for the purpose described.

10. The lever-arm O, in combination with the carryingplatform N, and with a suitable die inserted in or secured to said lever-arm, or to the platform, or to bot-h, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

ll.The arrangement of dies s on the creasing-plunger and on the folding-table, or on either, substantially as and for the purpose described.

12. The types a, arranged in an arm, c, and operating, in combination with foldin g-table l? and plunger I, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. i

THOS. V. WAYMOTH. Witnesses:

M. M. Lrvnvesron, W.,HAUFF. 

